An Iranian semi-official news agency says Iran expects more countries to follow Canada's example and close their embassies in Tehran.

The Mehr news agency on Monday quoted Hasan Sobhaninia from Iran's influential parliament committee on national security and foreign policy as saying that there "is the possibility" of others making the same decision as Ottawa.

Canada shut its embassy in Tehran on Friday, severed diplomatic relations and ordered Iranian diplomats to leave, accusing the Islamic Republic of being the most significant threat to world peace. The surprise action reinforced Canada's close ties with Tehran's arch foe Israel.